local clippings: Denver’s Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel

Fans of Nick Drake (and maybe even Johnny Cash), listen up. This spring, Rounder Records will introduce Denver songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff. Producer Brian Deck, who has worked with Califone, Iron & Wine and Modest Mouse, helped Rateliff and band put together their debut album, In Memory Of Loss, set for release on April 27th. Rateliff has that kind of ominous voice that I eat up, but I’m not alone. Spin praised his “massive, alluring” voice. Billboard dubbed the unsigned singer-songwriter a ‘must hear.’

A few tracks are on the band’s MySpace page. Also, check out this live performance at the historic Casbah club in San Diego.